Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

116. The Age Line

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but the BTS of James and Oliver fighting had me weak

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Bel stayed behind as her classmates all filtered out of the room.

She wasn't quite sure how to approach what she needed to say.

It could have some very unfortunate consequences for her if it went badly.

If Professor Moody rejected her requests for help with her crazed endeavour, that was one thing.

If he went to Dumbledore, that was another.

And if he went to Fudge, Bel would be risking breaking the very limited trust those at the Ministry had in her considering the dangers she could pose.

Once the room was abandoned, except for the new DADA professor and the curious Hufflepuff, one of them spoke.

"So, how directly are we talking?" Moody posed his earlier question that Bel refused to answer in the presence of her classmates.

"Direct enough for one to practice defence against them first hand", Bel finally gave her answer.

"And what makes you wonder about that?" Moody asked as he leant back against his desk.

Bel had stood up to move away from her own desk to sit where Harry had been sitting, no longer wanting to be beside the spider's deceased corpse.

"How much do you know about my position, sir?" Bel asked.

Moody was the new DADA professor. Surely, he had been made aware of her situation.

But Bel always had to tread carefully when speaking about her life.

"I know of your enhanced power and skill. I also know of your altered curriculum, including those lessons with Dumbledore. I'm afraid to say I don't know much more than that", Moody answered.

"Are you aware of my title?"

"Which one are you referring to?"

Bel froze slightly, wondering what lay behind his question.

Did he know more than he was letting on?

Did he know about the titles she refused to live by?

Did he know about her family?

"I've heard of many, you see. Dumbledore's Ward seems to be the one used most often to address you in formal settings. But I've also heard whispers of a blessed saviour ...", Moody continued after Bel stayed silent.

He trailed off at the end before leaning forward slightly to whisper, "or a burdened curse."

Bel shivered at that title.

In her mind, it paired with her heritage title.

Heir of Slytherin.

Of course, she was also an Heir of Hufflepuff.

But that didn't have the same effect on her. It didn't pose an unspoken and unmatched threat.

"Let's go with the first one", she decided to reply.

Moody leaned back and nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I have certain duties and responsibilities, sir. Ones that I am proud to have. But even if I wasn't ... I can't be rid of them. I have been taught that I have to be strong. No weaknesses so that I can live up to that title. But I've recently discovered ... in a way I don't quite care to mention ... that these curses pose a threat if I can't defend against them."